Music: Current count 27272 [27263] rated (+9), 418 [412] unrated (+6).
One of those weeks that was just blown to shreds, as I came down with a stomach bug on Wednesday, spent a couple days pretty much stuck in bed, and still feel exhausted and a bit unsettled. Before getting sick several records got a lot of plays without quite convincing me they're A- material (Cables, Schlippenbach, American Honey). The only Schlippenbach Trio album I've given an A- to was 2015's Features, which I don't recall as being a close decision, so I thought I should at least go back and replay 1972's Pakistani Pomade -- perhaps a little wilder than the new one, but not nearly as vividly recorded. I've been playing more old Schlippenbach today, but nothing that can't wait until next week.
Birthday tomorrow, will be 66. Spent some time today wading through the Social Security online form, so maybe I'll start drawing some income (and slow down the savings burn). Had planned on cooking tomorrow, but the illness forced a postponement -- maybe Saturday. I usually pick out a national cuisine and try to overdo it. I thought Greek would be fun this year: first non-American food I learned to cook, thanks to my dear college friend Elias Vlanton. I visited Elias back in June and we cooked up a pretty smashing dinner, using The Jerusalem Cookbook and a few other Mediterranean recipes, so he's been on my mind. Finally worked out a tentative menu last night: a delicate balance of feasible and awesome.
Made very little progress on the jazz book(s) last week. I'm up toOctober 2005 in the notebook. I've reached a point where nearly all the reviews I'm finding had been copied to the Jazz Prospecting and/or Recycled Goods archives. Not sure yet if that means I can skip the rest, but good chance I can. For now I have one more Golden Oldies column to post, so that series will probably end with 2005.
I should get around to a Streamnotes post later this week. Currently have 102 records, which isn't a huge amount, but if quantity doesn't force a post, the calendar will. Might give me some extra motivation to cherry pick the largest incoming queue I've had in several years.
Sad to note the death of Tom Hayden, a founder of the new left even before he became one of the leading opponents of the Vietnam War. As a teenager I read his book Rebellion in Newark, and of course rooted for him in the Chicago 8/7 trial. I was pleased to see him go into mainstream California politics, and can't say much about that. (Although I did roast him for endorsing Hillary over Bernie earlier this year: posthere.) In 2012, he spoke to the annual meeting of thePeace and Social Justice Center here in Wichita, and did a nice job of tracing out the continuity from the New Left to today's progressive politics.
New records rated this week:
- Stefan Aeby Trio: To the Light (2015 [2016], Intakt): [cdr]: B+(**)
- John Butcher & Ståle Liavik Solberg: So Beautiful, It Starts to Rain (2015 [2016], Clean Feed): [cd]: B+(**)
- George Cables: The George Cables Songbook (2016, HighNote): [cd]: B+(***)
- Dreezy: No Hard Feelings (2016, Interscope): [r]: B+(*)
- Mark Murphy: Slip Away (2016, Mini Movie): [cd]: B
- Schlippenbach Trio: Warsaw Concert (2015 [2016], Intakt): [cd]: B+(***)
- Travis Scott: Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight (2016, Epic): [r]: B+(**)
- Wax Tailor: By Any Beats Necessary (2016, Le Plan): [r]: B+(*)
Recent reissues, compilations, and vault discoveries rated this week:
- American Honey ([2016], UME): [sp]: B+(***)
Grade changes:
- Alexander von Schlippenbach Trio: Pakistani Pomade (1972 [2003], Atavistic): [r]: [was: B+] B+(***)
Unpacking: Found in the mail last week:
- BassDrumBone: The Long Road (Auricle, 2CD): November 15
- Eraldo Bernocchi/Prakash Sontakke: Invisible Strings (RareNoise): advance, November 18
- Jeff Collins: The Keys to Christmas (Crossroads)
- Fifth (Jinsy): advance, November 18
- Frank Kimbrough: Solstice (Pirouet): November 25
- Ingrid Laubrock: Serpentines (Intakt): advance: November
- Jerry Leake: Crafty Hands (Rhombus Publishing)
- Allen Lowe: In the Diaspora of the Diaspora: A Day in Brooklyn: At Ibeam (Constant Sorrow)
- Allen Lowe: In the Diaspora of the Diaspora: A Day in Brooklyn [Recorded 10/18/15 at Ibeam] (Constant Sorrow)
- Allen Lowe: In the Diaspora of the Diaspora: Hell With an Ocean View (Constant Sorrow)
- Tom Marko: Inner Light (Summit)
- Bobby Previte: Mass (RareNoise): advance, November 18
- Ken Schaphorst Big Band: How to Say Goodbye (JCA): December 2
- Scott Whitfield: New Jazz Standards (Volume 2) (Summit)